The Relationship Between Rainfall Frequency and Amount to the Formation and Profile Distribution of Clay Particles

Abstract

For Typic Argiudolls in Illinois the amount of pedogenic clay particles formed, over that inherited from the calcareous Peoria loess, seems to be controlled by rainfall frequency. The amount of solution leaching through the soil, as inferred from the amount of rainfall, was not related to the amount of pedogenic clay particles formed. This finding may help explain why the clay minerals found in the argillic horizon of some soils are not in the clay mineral stability field predicted by dilute solution chemistry.The distribution of clay within the soil profile is related to the amount and distribution of rainfall (leachable water), depth of leaching, and natural drainage class.